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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County names new community justice director ... Weather service warns of prime fire conditions tonight ... Teen gets probation after forcing sex on impaired girl ... Jackson County names new community justice director ... Weather service warns of prime fire conditions tonight ... Teen gets probation after forcing sex on impaired girl ... Joyce Segers to run for Bates' seat Comment By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM Updated Aug 16, 2016 at 5:08 PM By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM Updated Aug 16, 2016 at 5:08 PM » Social News Ashland Democrat Joyce Segers, who ran twice against Congressman Greg Walden, has declared her candidacy for the state Senate seat left vacant by the unexpected death of Sen. Alan Bates Aug. 5. Segers, 67, said Tuesday she wants to carry on the work of Bates, especially in health care, where he was a leader. For 20 years, Segers owned and operated a medical billing company in Florida. “I’m fully in line with what Bates did. He had a real vision, and it’s something we’re still fighting for,” she said. Segers said she supports a woman’s right of choice and recently, while visiting new grandchildren for several months in Colorado, worked with Planned Parenthood on voter registration. Segers attended City College of New York and is on the board of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission, “so I consider myself a peace activist.” Recognizing the state’s budget challenges in education and many other areas, Segers said she supports a sales tax, something Oregon has voted down many times, and also supports Measure 97, which would increase taxes on large corporations. However, she would prefer a $15 minimum hourly wage or more instead of a sales tax, she said. Noting her husband, a Korean War veteran, committed suicide in 1972, she said she would work to increase care and benefits for veterans, adding, “It pisses me off, how we’re not dealing with the vets of Iraq and Vietnam, let alone Korea.” She also supports the recent legalization of marijuana, as it’s been a “wonderful help” to so many veterans, she said. On higher education funding, Segers said her son, 40, is still struggling to pay student debt, as is his wife. “This has to stop," she said. "The nations of Europe and other areas have created free college, with equitable taxation, and this fear (of debt) has to end.” Commenting on the partisan divide common in politics today, Segers said, “There is a way people can talk to each other calmly, without fights. We can create an atmosphere of working together for the good of everyone. I know that sounds naive, but I’m not naive. I lived through two campaigns and use FDR as my guiding light about what’s possible when things are at their worst.” Segers works full-time at Kixx women’s clothing store in Ashland. Segers ran for Congress in 2010 and 2012. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected]. By John Darling for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By John Darling for the Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 16, 2016 at 4:47 PM Updated Aug 16, 2016 at 5:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501